Vacation Bible Camp '08

Sahibabad— On May 21-24th, children from the Ghaziabad/Sahibabad area brought their vibrant energy and loud screams to the Christian Fellowship Center for the third annual Vacation Bible Camp. As registration began, droves of young people lined the front of the Church as volunteers rushed to accommodate the masses. At first glance, one could tell that the week to come was going to be anything but routine.

After weeks of preparation, at last it was time to bring the vision to life. The theme, ‘Making a Difference’, was chosen for this year’s VBC. Students took part in activities throughout the week surrounding the theme. The children were presented with testimonies of real life people who made a difference, took part in classes to equip them to make a difference, and competed in various games.

“VBC is more than a program, it’s a vision. It’s a ministry,” said Pastor P.C. Alexander, of CFC. And a ministry it is. Throughout the week students took part in vibrant worship sessions, times of prayer, and were closely mentored by adults. Many of the children in attendance belong to Hindu families and had never been to an event like this. “I’d say a good number of these kids had never been to a church before,” said Alexander.

The highlight of the ministry, however, came from a surprising source, Youth Pastor Sailesh Roch. Roch, a pastor with the Assemblies of God, is not unlike other youth pastors; he presents the gospel, entertains young people with action songs, and teaches valuable biblical lessons and moral values. However, Roch does this all while dressed as a clown. Throughout the week Pastor Roch kept the kids entertained by performing magic tricks, puppet shows, and making balloon animals—all with a clean biblical theme.

“People are surprised to learn that I am a pastor,” says Roch, who has been doing the clown act full time for two years.

“Pastors are not supposed to dress like this, and act like this. But, the kids
need to be reached differently than adults. They get bored after just a few
minutes, so I keep them entertained and teach them at the same time,”

he explained.

I was so intrigued by Pastor Roch’s approach that I, too, felt the urge to try his trade. On Saturday, the final day of VBC, I dressed in a clown suit and performed with him. I found myself singing songs, playing tricks on the other pastors, and dancing around. We had a wonderful time, and I am considering borrowing his method to take back to the States.


After four action packed days, unfortunately VBC ended. It was sad to see the hundreds of kids driving away in our busses. VBC was a wonderful time filled with great memories. It’s not known how many of the children committed themselves to Christ during that week; however it is known that the seeds have been planted in the over 350 youth who have attended.